Apostle Timothy of the Seventy (ca. 97). Monk-martyr Anastasius the Persian (628). St. Macarius, founder of Zhabyn Monastery (Belev) (1623).
Hieromartyrs Manuel, George, Peter, and Leontius, bishops; Sionius, Gabriel, John, Leontus, and Parodus, priests; and 377 companions, in Bulgaria (ca. 817). Martyr Anastasius, hierodeacon of the Kiev Caves (12th c.).
St. Brithwald, bishop of Ramsbury (1045). St. Joseph Samakus the Sanctified, of Crete (1511). New Monk-martyr Gregory of Pec (17th-18th c.).
Friday. [Eph. 4:17-25; Mark 12:1-12]
In the parable about the vineyard is
depicted the Old Testament Church and God’s care for
it. The New Testament Church succeeded the Old, and so
this parable can be applied to it as well. Since each
Christian is also a living church of God, it can be
applied to him as well. The latter is more needful for us.
What is the vineyard? It is the soul that has received
remission of sins, the grace of rebirth, the gift of the
Holy Spirit as a promise of the heritage of the eternal
kingdom, the word of God, the holy mysteries, a guardian
angel. Who are the husbandmen? Consciousness and freedom.
They receive the gifts and give a commitment to cultivate
them and bear fruit to the Lord. Who are the careless
husbandmen? Those who want to use the advantages of being
a Christian as befits the external order of their lives,
but do not bring worthy spiritual fruits to the Lord. Who
are those sent from the Lord? The conscience and the fear
of God, the word of God, teachers and pastors by whom the
Lord wants to give understanding to the careless. Those
who do not want to change themselves do not heed them;
some drive them away and try to muffle their voice. Others
even start to war against the Lord Himself, when they
reject faith in Him in various forms. In the end, they
will be miserably destroyed (cf. Mt. 21:41).
Thursday. [James 1:19-27; Mark 10:17-27]
Someone turned to the Lord with a question: Good
Master, what shall I do that[mc1] I may inherit
eternal life? What necessitated this question? Were
there no scriptures? Was the law not read every
Saturday for everyone? There was everything—both
Scripture and its interpreters; but in society
difference of opinion went around and muddled everyone.
The Pharisees said one thing, the Sadducees another,
the Essenes, their own thing, the Samaritans their own.
In Galilee, perhaps even pagan teachings were heard,
and each put forth their own with a tone of conviction.
Anyone who was zealous for salvation naturally came to
the question: What should I do? What should I follow,
that my soul not be destroyed? Our situation now is
very similar those times. What teachings are not going
around our schools, in society, and in literature! For
the indifferent it is nothing; but they for whom every
teaching is not the same cannot but seek an answer to
the question, “What should I do?” So what
is the solution? The one the Saviour gave: Believe and
live as God commanded, and do not listen to
people’s talk; let them talk. The talk of
scientists is like rumours and fashion: today they say
one thing, tomorrow another. But you should heed only
God’s word, which abides unto the ages. What the
Lord commanded no philosophizing can revoke. Everything
must be done, and cannot be put off. The judgment
indeed will be according to the word of the Lord, and
not according to our philosophizing.
[mc1]